As Jayden Martin takes off on the virtual racetrack during a round of Mario Kart, the incoming freshman is also preparing herself to accelerate into the Fall semester.

Martin, along with her friend, was one of the many students who attended jaX’s Jamboree, an event that was part of the effort of the University of Houston-Victoria to welcome its incoming class of students through events filled with numerous activities designed for both prospective and registered students as they prepare to make UHV their next home.

As a Victoria native, Martin said she has been on campus before and likes the familiarity that comes with going to school in her hometown. With all of her school supplies accounted for, Martin said she plans to dive into the semester by working on her basic courses and plans to explore psychology in the future.

Jayden Martin

“UHV is a good university, and it helped because of the financial help that came with attending UHV,” Martin said. “It was a lot easier to come here, and they have a lot of great stuff.”

ROAR First-Year Orientation was a comprehensive two-day event held on June 28^th and 29^th that provided students with an immersive experience to explore campus life, while giving them the opportunity to engage with faculty and their peers, said Hannah Hayward, UHV director of Student Services.

“We had resource fairs, panels with parents, faculty members and we have our great orientation leaders that interacted with students the entire time,” Hayward said. “We had a lot of fun showcasing how great UHV is. Our goal is to make sure every new Jaguar feels at home.”

The orientation was tailored primarily for new students with fewer than 24 credit hours, though transfer students were also welcome to attend, Hayward said. A highlight of this year’s orientation is the introduction of the jaX’s Jamboree event, held on Friday inside Jaguar Hall. The event offered a multitude of activities to welcome students and their families, with events that included: board games, karaoke, DIY dorm décor and video games, Hayward said.

Hannah Hayward

“There’s a lot going on to keep both the students and us occupied,” Hayward said. “And of course, students were able to go over on campus and visit with different departments before the end of the day.”

Later that evening, students were welcomed to the university with remarks from UHV interim provost Joann Olson, followed by a special scholarship ceremony. The last event of that day was the After-Hours Hangout from 8:30 to 10 p.m., an event for students only to allow them to socialize and experience campus life without their parents around to bolster independence and camaraderie among their peers, Hayward said.

On Saturday, the day started with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. before students were welcomed by Jay Lambert, UHV vice president for Student Affairs. A parent only discussion event was held at 9:45 a.m., with a student roundtable following right after. From 10:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., multiple activities were scheduled for the students which included: a resource fair, city shuttle tours, housing tours, advising and registration sessions, campus and bookstore tours. The day concluded with a lunch buffet at Jaguar Hall.

With more than 20 campus departments playing a part in this year’s orientation events, the events saw more than 70 registered students, Hayward said.

“We are so happy to see all of the new students coming in and sharing with them how awesome UHV is and how much they can gain, and we are thrilled for them to start their academic journey with us,” Hayward said.

Othello Garblah

Othello Garblah, an incoming freshman from Houston, said he chose UHV for its diverse offerings, including athletic programs, a robust business program and the numerous extracurricular activities offered to students beyond their classwork. He plans to pursue a business degree with aspirations of entering real estate, marketing, and entrepreneurship, ultimately aiming to work as a broker.

“I’m 100% prepared for the semester to start,” Garblah said. “I’m ready — I’m locked in.”